FullMetal*Panic!

Kaname took the head phones off and unplugged them from the jack. She returned her seat to the upright position. She looked out of the airplane window, seeing nothing but darkness.

Anything could be out there.

Who knows where they were at the moment?

She remembered another fateful flight. This one better end up where it was supposed to!

Were they flying over the ocean? By now they should be! If any terrorists were on board, it would be in their best interest to lay low. They had time to reconsider. They did NOT want to mess with her.

Was Sousuke at sea? Airborne? On the ground? In battle? Getting ready to depart?

“Unless his leaving was some kind of trick!” She froze at the sound of her own words. It WAS possible. She wouldn’t put anything past Tessa! Especially if she found out about the invitation she made Sousuke.

The possibilities tumbled about in Kaname’s mind like clothes in a dryer.

“Relax, Kaname. We still have a long way to go.” It was true, in more ways than one.

She had only been in the air for a couple of hours. It wouldn’t do her any good to worry continuously for the next twelve hours.

Sosuske had shown her his heart for only one stolen moment. It was transcendant event, but how much faith could she put in it.

Was it a promise of things to come?

Or, was it all just wishful thinking?

“First things, first girl.” Yes, no sense in jumping to conclusions. The most important question wasn’t whether or not Sousuke might fall in love with her. For that to matter, he had to return home safe. Would he?

“He better. If he knows what’s good for him! Moron.”

Worrying didn’t accomplish anything. She needed to find some way to distract herself or just stop thinking altogether. It would be nice if she could get some sleep, but it was still too early in her time zone. She looked at the food carts rolling down the aisle way. They call THAT a dinner? Not likely that would hold her interest.

She tried to think about her kiss with Sousuke, wanting to dwell on the pleasant moments they had shared. She had a right to a good life, didn’t she? After all of the tough times she had been through, she deserved something good. So did Sousuke! She would be good for him, if everybody and everything would just give her a chance. He would be good for her too.

“He doesn’t have any choice. Big idiot!”

Yes. He would get back safely from whatever mess they threw him into. She would get back from New York after seeing just what her father had in mind for her. They could pick right up again where they had left off.

She thought about New York. Stepping off the airplane for the first time, those years ago, when she was ten.. The house in the suburbs. Her school. Friends. Visits to the big city. The parks. Subways. One particular Deli. The good times. The bad things. Much of it only seemed a blur now. It would be nice if she could relive some of the special moments from the three and one half years that she spent there. It would be even nicer to make some new memories. She wished she could have gone back under better circumstances.

“Well, we don’t know it’s anything bad.”

True. But, she was going at her father’s insistence, with no time to savor the idea or work up any sense of anticipation. And, she still didn’t know why. That one question had been plaguing her more and more, ever since she hung up that telephone.

It had been heard holding back the tears when she told her friends goodbye. Packing hadn’t been any easier, especially when she nestled the picture Sousuke gave her between two pairs of sweaters. Looking at her card, she had decided to put that in as well. When she closed her suitcase, it felt as if something was missing.

Not something. Someone. Big stupid head!

When she had taken her hamster over to her neighbor, and had done everything else she needed to do, she closed and locked her door, standing there unmoving when she was done.. It was hard to leave. More than anything, she wanted to be in that apartment and hear a knock on that door. She wanted to open that door and see Sousuke. She wanted to wrap her arms around Sousuke and squeeze him until he cried out for mercy.

That was not going to happen. At least not for a while.

Waiting for the cab had been a trial. She had forgotten her umbrella again. The chill wind made her shiver. The driver showed up late. She found out why: traffic was heavy. The ride to the airport was excruciating. She just wanted to be there already! No, she wanted to be in New York. She had to know what was going on. Why so sudden? Why no choice? Why now?

Why so many damn cars on the road? Probably just to spite her.

If only Sousuke could have gone with her! The thought made her smile, despite herself. She could image the effect a certain clueless soldier would have on her father’s well-ordered life. The though of parading arm in arm with Sousuke in front of her sister made her laugh. Ayame would turn green with envy. She would want all of the details. Kaname wouldn’t tell her until it was about time to leave.

She would have made it a point to give Sousuke a long and noisy kiss in front of the little brat…. if her father was nowhere to be seen.

Her smile deepened. It’s always great to have secrets to tease one’s family with. The sense of power was delicious. Then again, knowing her father, it might be best that she didn’t say anything about a certain Sergeant. She was still his little girl, despite all of the obvious anatomic refinements that suggested otherwise.

It was amusing to think the reactions she could get if she did tell him about Sousuke. Especially if she embellished things or withheld certain key points.

“Father, he’s a veteran. A Sergeant. He’s been fighting for the past eight years.” Her father was adept at mathematics. He’d figure that her boyfriend must be in his late twenty or early thirties. And, having spent time in the army when he was younger, he’d have a certain impression of soldiers.

“You’re going to be a grandfather.” That one would set him off like a Roman Candle. In his mind, Kaname wasn’t even supposed to be dating yet. “I’m pretty certain he’s the father.” That would lead to a full fireworks display. She couldn’t help but chuckle. She had always enjoyed July 4th in the big city.

“He’s very talented father. There’s no one else out there quite like him. Wonderful writing. Classic architecture. Well manicured gardens. Fancy cars, fine wine, and gourmet foods. Trophies in the High School display case. He’s blown them all up at one time or another.” Pull pin from father…. run a safe distance away as he flies off the handle…. watch HIM explode.

The possibilities were endless. But, the last thing she wanted to do was get her father nervous. In her father’s mind, boys were supposed to be invisible to her. All she needed was for him to take away her credit card and break the lease on her apartment. Without those or her expense account, she would be left with few realistic options.

Her mood changed again, prompted by a rather frightening thought. What if the call to Sousuke wasn’t a trick to get him away from her…. but the ticket was a move on her father’s part to bring her back to America?

What if he wanted her there for good?

He was a very influential man. Finding her a spot in a prestigious school would be a piece of cake. There could be closets of clothes waiting for her---Ayame had a good idea of what she did and didn’t like. Her father might try to sweeten the pot by promising her a car on her next birthday.

Kaname was a respectful and considerate daughter. But, if her father tried something like that, he’d get an earful. No, TWO earfuls! And that would just be the beginning. Sure, Kaname. Try to remember the last time you tried to defy your father. You ended up with a juvenile record that day.

“I SAID, I take cash, checks, or credit cards. Tipping is the norm.”

Kaname had snapped out of her funk. The cab had arrived at Narita Airport and she hadn’t even taken notice. As soon as the driver had taken her bags out and put them on the sidewalk, she paid the man. He kept staring down at his palm when he was done.

“Oh, of course. Here’s my tip for the day.” Kaname had been feeling somewhat cantankerous. When the man’s eyes had brightened, she dropped her bombshell. “When a young lady is waiting out in the rain, don’t be late. Hmmppff!”

She heard obvious cursing in a foreign language as she walked away. For some reason, it made her feel a little better. Sousuke would have appreciated her move. He was a stickler when it came to doing one’s professional duty to the utmost. She remembered his response to the last shoddy cab driver who had asked him for a tip.

‘You may choose the manner of your gratuity. I can shoot you in a nonfatal area, or arrange for delivery of your body to the City Morgue.’

That cab driver had dropped the money out of his window and scraped his taxi against two parked cars in an effort to get away. Sousuke had such a way with words. That had made her furious then. She was filled with warmth and affection now.

“Sousuke….”

As Kaname pulled her suitcase behind her, she couldn’t help but catch sight of the large brightly lit posters on the lobby walls. In each one, a happy family was enjoying some fun activity, or a loving couple walked hand in hand at some exotic or charming location. For some reason, she stopped to look at each one.

She remembered Sousuke’s invitation to join him on a Pacific island. She had been so excited. The invitation impressed her---she hadn’t thought Sousuke could be so bold. She hadn’t ever hoped that he might show that kind of interest in her. Overwhelmed, she had walked on a cloud all of the way back to herapartment, despite being unceremoniously sprayed with paint by that otaku’s overpriced security gate.

Of course, that trip hadn’t turned out the way she had hoped. Before they had boarded, that clueless excuse for a boy had told her where they were actually going. The flight was living Hell. She was so put out, she couldn’t even enjoy giving that jerk the cold shoulder. Then he hooked her up to him and jumped out of the plane, over the ocean!

She smiled. Those moments of freefall had been so wonderful, so freeing.

The events on the submarine were a different story.

“He owes me!”

Yes, that big idiot owed her a trip to some beautiful island somewhere. He always made it a point to pay off his debts and obligations. Always. So, that meant he had to come back alive.

He had to.

Kaname didn’t realize how long she had stopped to stare at one advertisement. A young man held a girl in his arms. They were kissing. She held a scarf in her hand. There was snow falling. ‘Share your love together this holiday. Go somewhere special.’ The caption couldn’t have hit any closer to the mark.

Checking her watch, Kaname got an unpleasant surprise. She had been standing there longer than she should have. She would need to hurry! If she couldn’t check in and get through customs quickly, she might miss her flight.

Just what she needed. More stress.

She ran, as quickly as she could. People stopped, aghast, seeing her streak past like a crazy woman. Her suitcases bounced and slid behind her instead of rolling. Turning one corner, her largest bag knocked over a row of potted palms. Speeding across one hallway entrance, she spooked the driver of a small people mover. Swerving, he ran into a decorative fountain, catapulting himself face first into the water.

The large digital clocks on the wall served to spur Kaname on. She could do this. She WOULD do this. Nothing could stop one of Jindai High’s best female athletes. Nothing that wished to remain in one piece.

She skidded to a stop. Both bags fell out of her hands. The line to the Airline counter she needed stretched across the Gate area. One of the ticket attendants posted a sign in front of her work area. It read ‘Temporarily off duty. Please use next counter.’

There was only one open counter.

For a moment, kaname felt frantic. She checked the Arrival/Departure board. The next flight to NYC was fire hours after hers. There would be no guarantee she could get a seat. What was she going to do? The last thing she needed was another lecture from her father on responsibility.

A thought crossed her mind. It was brazen, but it might just work. Could she possibly justify taking the chance? What if her action caused certain people to reassess the value of keeping her safe?

“What would Sousuke do?”

Guns, grenades, and incendiary devices aside, he would do something direct, something bold. How could she, a Class Representative and Student Council Vice President, do anything less.

“They owe me too!”

Ignoring the withering looks she received from the people standing in line, Kaname walked directly up to the ticket counter. She took out a piece of paper from her purse and scribbled a phone number on it, showing it to the startled attendant.

“Excuse me, I am a V.I.P. My identity must remain confidential. Please call this number and put me on the line. Arrangements will be made for you to talk to someone in high authority.”

Kaname tried to put an arrogant look on her face.

“B-But… I can’t do that…. all these people….” The young woman with the thick glasses stammered, looking at the huge line of travelers.

“The longer you wait, the longer they wait. They longer I wait, the harder it will be for you to find your next job.”

Kaname felt bad saying that.

The girl caught the emphasis on the word ‘next.’ She debated whether she should call her supervisor, security, or the number on the paper. She chose the final option, much to Kaname’s relief.

“Here….” She handed Kaname the handset.

“This is Jindai Blue. I am requesting connection to Silver Home. Authorization code 2222-X.” Kaname waited as the Mithril operative on the other end of the line checked on her information. He asked for the password Kaname had chosen.

“Halisen,” she answered. The agent set up a connection to Mithril HQ.

After a couple of tense minutes, someone with the necessary authority came on line.

“Yes. I am at Tokyo Airport and need a favor. I am at risk of missing a flight to New York City. Anything you could say to the ticket attendant to expedite the process would be greatly appreciated.” Kaname crossed her fingers.

She had done a lot for Mithril, playing a big role in saving a five billion dollar submarine. She hoped that would mean something.

“No, I am not acting on any tips heard from him or anyone else. I am traveling at my father‘s insistence. Thank you.”

Kaname handed the phone to the lady behind the counter. She had no idea what was said. After she hung up the phone, the attendant dialed another number. There was no way for Kaname to know that it was the home number for the CEO of the Airline. When someone answered at that number, the nervous young lady passed along a short coded message she wrote down. Listening for a moment, her face went pale.

“Let me check you ticket, please.” The girl’s voice tightened as she turned back towards Kaname. Her hands were trembling. “Here, I will take care of your bags personally. Have a nice flight. Please!”

“Thank you. May I have your name? Address, too? You’ve done a fine job here.” Kaname planned on sending the young lady something to make up for the trouble.

Heading off to board her flight, Kaname stopped for a moment, remembering something she had been asked. Why had the Mithril official asked her if she were traveling as a result if something Sousuke might have told her?

There had been no time to waste. A voice on an overhead speaker mentioned her flight number, saying that the announcement was last call. Kaname had stopped feeling guilty.

A conversation between two men in the seats in front of her brought her back to the present moment. At first, her attention was drawn by the stage whispers and slurred speech. Soon, however, the words themselves had her ears pricked up.

“Shhhhhhh. Keep it down. You’ve had way too much to drink. Give me those.” The first speaker was obviously concerned.

There was the sound of a brief wrestling match. A number of miniature bottles of vodka and bourbon joined an empty sake container, rolling back under Kaname’s seat.

“Of course I did. You should too. You know why!” The second man sounded rebellious.

“Quiet. Keep it down. You know that nobody else is supposed to hear anything. You know the panic it would cause.”

Kaname sat forward in her seat, not embarrassed to be eavesdropping. This ought to be interesting. Unless they ended up spilling secret Yakusa business or something. She didn’t want to be fingered as a possible witness or something. She had already had her fill of gangsters.

“Yeh. Sure. We’re the lucky ones. We get to mrbllbrllfrbfrrglll….” The voice was garbled for a moment. “Get your damn hand off of my mouth. You want to go back and sit in Tokyo? Go ahead. Go right ahead. I won’t stop you.”

“Shut the Hell up. You know I will have to report this. The boss will have your ass. For God’s sake, man. Just chill out.” The first man sounded angry.

“You bet. He can chew my tail off if he likes---as long as Tokyo is still there when we get back!” Those ill chosen words were followed by the sound of a loud slap. “Owwww….”

“Just one more word and I will have you arrested when we reach the embassy. That’s Japanese soil. As it is, you are going to get busted back down to courier. I‘m not joking!!!”

Kaname froze.

Were they drunken fools, or was anything they just said cause for concern?

Tokyo might not be there when they got back?

Her father’s actions suddenly worried her more than ever. The question that the Mithril official had asked sent chills up and down her spine as well---she could only assume that the man had thought she was leaving the country because she had been slipped knowledge of some significant risk or threat.

Did this have something to do with what Sousuke was involved in?

Just how much danger would he be in?

What might happen if he and his comrades failed?

What about her friends? Kyouko. Ryo. Maya. Ren. Everybody. They were still in Tokyo. Should she try to get use of an in flight telephone? Even if she could, what would she say to them? The conversation she imagined was telling:

‘Kyouko, it’s me. Hey girl, get out of Tokyo as fast as you can. No, make it Japan.’

‘Why, Kaname?”

‘Oh, because of what two drunken guys were talking about in front of me. That, and the fact that my father sounds overly anxious to see me over the holidays. Did I ever tell you about Mithril?’

‘No…’

‘Never mind then. Can you call everyone else and pass along the message?”

“What should I tell them the danger is?”

“I haven’t a clue! Just make the call, call girlfriend.’

‘OK , Kaname….”

‘ Thanks, Kyouko. You’re a real trooper.’

There was no way she could call.

Who would believe her?

Besides, she really didn’t have any proof that there was a real danger.

She would have to see if she could get the truth out of her father, if he actually knew something. Then she could call with facts instead of conjecture or just a bad feeling. Yes. There was probably time, wasn’t there? That is, if there actually was something to be concerned about.

Kaname heard the bottles rattling around under her chair. She almost thought about sneaking a couple of bottles for herself when the carts rolled by again. She didn’t care that much for alcohol, but she was incredibly on edge.

There had been all that stress about that first card. Who had it? What was Sousuke going to say? Sousuke accepted, then told her he wouldn’t be able to make it. She had used harsh words. Shoeless, she ran after him. After making up, she had to watch him leave her. Then she got her father’s phone call. She had to rush around throwing things together. Rain. Wind. Traffic. That long line. The worrisome conversation.

It was enough.

She had even forgotten it was Christmas Eve.

The flight seemed to stretch on forever. She wished she could get up and pace up and down the aisles, working off some of her anxiety and excess energy. A stewardess brought by a selection of magazines. There was no way she would choose one of those---teen magazines about dating… family magazines about pleasant outings…. news magazines about world events.

She also had no desire to vote for the next in flight movie. There were three choices. ‘The Day After’? No way. She didn’t want to watch a film where New York ended up buried under snow. The new ‘Godzilla’ flick? No. That would remind her of Sousuke, and she had no desire to watch Tokyo go up in flames. The feature that won at the recent Asian Films Festival? Yeh, right! A romance tragedy.

It was so great being in First Class, wasn’t it? At least she had a fair amount of leg room. More than Sousuke would have in Arbalest.

“Those kinds of thoughts aren’t going to help.”

Kaname failed to take her own advice. Remembering her time aboard the Da Danaan, and piecing together things that Sousuke had told her over time, Kaname began thinking about the kinds of things Sousuke might be going through. Briefings. Trying to catch some shut eye, despite knowing what awaited him. Systems checks, with weary mind trying not to miss something that might prove fatal on the battle field. Getting dressed up in snug and uncomfortable A.S. suits. Final pep talks and updates. Closing oneself up inside a metal machine, surrounded by a load of explosive ordinance. Waiting one’s turn for launch. Being flung skyward by a steam catapult and a powered wing assembly. The nervous moments spent in transit. Sweating as one parachuted down, a sitting duck for anyone taking notice. Then the fun stuff.

How was he doing?

Was he thinking about her?

What might that good for nothing little Captain be up to?

“Tessa… lay one paw on my Sousuke… and you will live to regret it!”

My Sousuke?

Kaname smiled, liking the sound of those words, true or not.

She began reliving every moment they had spent together, seeing many things in a different light. He truly was a fish out of water! Hmmmm, maybe a bull in a China shop was a better analogy. No, a bullet in a China shop. One bullet? Sousuke? How about a pistol, three grenades, and a block of C4 in a China shop?

Did it matter, as long as he was her fish, bull, bullet, or bag full of weapons?

Any way, he was getting better, wasn’t he? If not, he would be soon enough, like it or not. She’d make certain of that. Before, he had been subconscious project of hers. Now, he would be in for a purposeful make-over. No, she was not going to be like those foolish girls who tried to change their boyfriends. She was just going to smooth out the rough edges.

It wasn’t her fault that Sousuke was one big rough edge!

Kaname thought. She smiled. She laughed. She cried. At one point, she was pleased when the stewardess was able to bring her the stationery she asked about. She wrote Sousuke a letter, starting over a number of times, wanting to get it just right. She fell asleep in the process.

When the Captain came on the overhead announced that the plane was lining up for final approach, Kaname woke up and wondered where all of the time had gone.

Looking out the window, she saw a huge expanse of lights. They were flying over the city, headed for John F. Kennedy International Airport. Lower and lower they dropped, until she could make out countless cars headed this way and that. Before she knew it, they were merely a few feet above the runway.

After a somewhat rough landing, and during the long slow journey to the tarmac, Kaname briefly forgot about her worries and concerns. It had been a while since she had seen her father and sister. She felt the anticipation building. Suddenly it was worth every yen to be First Class. She could get off the plane before the restless multitude milling behind her.

Walking up the ramp leading to the waiting area, Kaname felt her pulse quicken. She had an urge to break into a run. She was almost there. Almost there. Almost

Someone was jumping up and down, waving her arms in the air. It was Ayame, of course. Seeing Kaname, her sister ran over to an area marked off by shiny silver poles and long felt-covered ropes. Walking sedately behind her was a well-dressed middle-aged man with glasses. Her father.

“Kaaa-naaaa-mayyyyy!”

Ayamae’s enthusiastic shout reminded Kaname of Kyouko. Thinking about her friend suddenly put Kaname somewhat on edge again.

“Here, let me take your carry-on bag.” Her sister’s smile looked too big to fit on her face.

“Kaname.” Her father’s terse acknowledgement was not accompanied by his usual affable smile and nod of the head. Instead, his major expression seemed to be one of relief. Kaname began to feel the pressure weighing down on her again, especially after the two drunken officials from the plane brushed past her.

Kaname knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to mess up Ayame’s hair and annoy her stoic father with a public show of affection. She knew what she wanted to say, planning on asking Ayame if she had a boyfriend and thanking her father for the airline ticket. The first words out of her mouth did not follow that script.

“Daddy, what’s going on?” Kaname shocked herself and her father with the volume of her voice and the rush of her words.

“Kaname?” Her father was somewhat taken aback. He looked at the people surround him and his two daughters. His eyes narrowed somewhat when he looked at Kaname.

That was not the polite greeting he expected.

The subject matter was one he didn’t want to deal with at the moment.

“Is that the way you greet your father?” It was a rhetorical question. Kaname cringed.

Ayame shook her finger at Kaname in mock severity, blushing when she saw her father catch her in the act.

“I apologize, father.” Kaname bowed. “I am very happy to see you. You honor me by picking me up in person. I wish to thank you for the opportunity to come for a visit”

Ayame put on a big show of wiping her eyes, standing where her father couldn’t see her. Kaname scowled at her.

“That’s better. A father should expect courtesy from his eldest child, especially as an example to another child who could stand to pay more attention to the family traditions.” Her father looked over at Ayame.

“Yes, father.” Kaname grinned at the look on Ayame’s face. Her sister was none to pleased about that.

“Well then. Let us meet the limo driver down at the baggage carousel. You can identify your luggage for him. As we walk, you can update me on your academic accomplishments at school.” Her father nodded his head and began walking.

Kaname stood still, her heart beating faster and faster..

“Kaname?” Her father turned to see why she was not walking just behind him.

Kaname squared her shoulders and set her jaw. She tried to control her rapid breathing. “Father, I respectfully ask, what is going on? I have a right to know.”

The look on her father’s face was one of sheer disbelief.

“Kaname Chidori, you need to mind your manners.” Her father’s voice was stern and unforgiving.

“This is neither the time nor the place for any such discussion. That is assuming there will ever be such a discussion.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned and began walking again.

“That’s just it father. I need to know if there is time. I want to know if there will still be a place. My friends are all back there, Daddy. I want to get some idea what Sousuke might be headed into.” Kaname knew she had made a mistake, the moment Sousuke’s name left her mouth.

Ayame knew it too. She smiled, looking like a cat who swallowed a particularly plump canary. She wrapped her arms around herself in a pretend hug.

“We do indeed need to have a talk, Kaname. I thought that living in America had been the cause of your vaguely rebellious nature, and that spending time back in Japan would bring back the obedient daughter I so cherish.” Her father began walking yet again.

Kaname followed, glad he hadn’t zeroed in on her faux pa.

“After we identify the luggage, you will do me a service by informing me about this Sousuke.” Her father spoke without ever looking back.

Kaname stumbled ever so slightly.


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Kaname was feeling guilty. In part, it was an ingrained thing---she hated to disappoint her father in any way. But, it was also true that she had been rude and impatient. She could blame it all on Sousuke. She had gotten too used to behaving that way around a certain infuriating young soldier.

“That moody military maniac has sure rubbed off on me,” she said quietly to herself, standing in the parking garage at the airport.

A large dark blue Lincoln limousine sat near one curb. The driver stood patiently by, a bemused look on his face. Foreign customs never ceased to amaze him. Shunya and Ayame Chidori sat inside, each with a different reaction to Kaname’s behavior.

The young girl was all smiles.

Her father’s scowl deepened by the moment.

“Hmmm. Daddy is High Commisioner on Environmental Issues at the U.N. Why would he rate the use of this car?” Kaname noted the U.N. plates, deciding it was not necessary to run a check on them. Might he be involved in bigger things? No time to pursue that now.

She checked the windows. They were bulletproof glass of the highest grade. She inspected the tires. Run flat. Good! She did a quick scan of the undercarriage and wheel wells, making certain not to get her clothes dirty.

Kaname ignored the faces her sister was making at her. She caught a view of her father looking this watch.

“May I look under the hood, please?” Kaname smiled at the driver’s look. He quickly acquiesced.

Everything appeared in order. No mysterious boxes or pouched. No sign of radio receiving equipment or remotely controlled servo devices. The trunk also looked fine. She gave the limo driver a thumbs up, then went back to join the others.

“OK, we’re ready to roll. My stomach’s growling. I could certainly go for some breakfast!” She looked at her watch, set to EST. “Or, I should say supper.”

Her father didn’t say a thing---he just kept staring at her, trying to find the right words.

“Daddy?” Kaname couldn’t imagine what might be bothering her father now. Was he still building up steam after hearing Sousuke’s name?

Ayame was giggling. Life was always so much more interesting when Kaname was around.

“Kaname… your behavior…. are you on drugs?” The way her father said it made Kaname go cold. He wasn’t joking.

“Father!!!” Kaname felt insulted. What had brought that on?

“I worry about you, Kaname. It is not an easy thing, having a daughter half a world away.”

Those words hit Kaname like a cart full of bricks. It was wonderful that her father cared; but, the possibility that he might want to permanently bring her back within his sphere of influence made her very uneasy.

She would have to watch her every step. One wrong slip of the tongue could prove disastrous. She might not be in harm’s way like Sousuke, but it appeared that she might very well be on a mission of her own. It was her task to maintain… or regain… the privilege of staying in Tokyo by herself.

That thought was ironic. Two years ago---when her father and Ayame had moved back to New York---she had been devastated when she was left on her own. Kaname had agreed to the move and concurred with all of the arguments; but, it had almost felt as if she were being abandoned or left behind.

“I’m a big girl now, Daddy. You and Mother did a fine job of raising me. It’s not too long before I head off for college. You need to have faith in me. I know right from wrong.” She kept her eyes on her father’s face, even though she had the urge to take in the sights of the city at night.

Kaname’s words were meant to be reassuring. Her father looked anything but relieved. He took a pen out of his pocket and began twirling it around. It was a nervous habit that people rarely saw.

“Do you, Kaname?” The pen stopped. His eyes scoured Kaname’s face, as if looking for written proof otherwise.

“Your behavior in the lobby was unpleasant. Your obsession with the automobile was disconcerting. Your mention of a young man raises a number of serious questions.”

Kaname’s muscles tightened. She had never enjoyed the Father-Daughter talks. Her father was well-meaning, but his approach would better fit a Drill Sergeant. If she showed him one shred of weakness or one reason to doubt, he would be all over her.

He was definitely unhappy about her impatience in the waiting area.

Her safety check of the car seemed somewhat odd to him.

But, given the politician in him, it was the words he most casually uttered that had the greatest significance. He was most worried about her behavior around boys.

Sousuke.

Kaname’s attention was briefly hijacked by some motion outside the car. They were stopped in traffic. Men were walking around with squeegees, holding cups of coins in their hands. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Her thoughts quickly returned to her father.

There was good reason to be nervous. Depending on the things he might ask, she could be faced with a difficult choice. She did not want to lie. But, what secrets could she safely share with him? What would the fact that she had been hiding things of such colossal nature do to his trust in her? Might he be frightened enough to bring her back overseas?

It would be a good time to move the conversation as far away from Sousuke as possible.

“Father, I respectfully ask, may we now discuss the real reason you brought me in for a visit at such short notice? I was originally worried about your health and Ayame’s. Now I’m worried about world events.”

There was no deception in Kaname’s look or voice. She was concerned. Very much so.

“It still remains be seen whether or not we will discuss that matter at all. Your attitude and willingness to confide in me will go along way in helping me make my own decisions. First there is an issue much closer to home. I would appreciate your cooperation. Please do not attempt to skirt the issue any longer.”

Kaname wisely refrained from asking her father what was closer to HER home than Tokyo. That was besides the point. She should have known that she could never outmaneuver him.

“Well?” Shunya obviously expected her to know what was on his mind, and to be responsible enough to initiate the conversation. His shoe toe began tapping ever so subtly.

Ayame giggled. That earned her a scowl from Kaname and her father.

“Sousuke?”

“Precisely. I take it that he is a friend of yours. It is a he, isn’t it?” Her father took off his glasses and began cleaning them. He did it without taking his eyes off of Kaname’s face, as blurry as it was.

“Yes Father. Sousuke is a classmate of mine. I consider him to be my friend.”

Kaname’s father looked at her intensely. He put his glasses back on. His eyes seemed to bore right into her skull. His hand twitched repeatedly.

“When you say friend, do you mean a platonic companion...... or a boyfriend?” His voice was deceptively quiet. Still, to Kaname, the word ‘boyfriend’ sat there expectantly, like a landmine just waiting for a foot.

“Father, that’s....”

Kaname was not in the mood to be grilled about Sousuke. Not with him going into harm’s way. Not with her being worried about her friends. A small petulant part of her thought that turnabout is fair play.

“Your personal business? Well, unless you have forgotten, YOU... are... MY... personal business.” Hearing that tone of voice, Ayame no longer looked amused. She looked out of the car window. She wanted to put her fingers in her ears.

“But....”

“There will be no ‘buts’ Kaname. None whatsoever. You know what my expectations were of you. No dating before you finished high school and had taken your examinations. How long have you been keeping this a secret from me?” His last sentence came out in a slow hiss. The hairs on the back of Kaname’s neck stood up.

“Father....”

“HOW LONG?”

“We never actually had a chance to go out on our date, father. We were planning to go out for dinner last night.” Kaname was not about to say anything about Belles Des Belles. She was unable to keep her disappointment out of her voice.

That could have ended her father’s version of the Spanish Inquisition, but it did not. Figuratively speaking, there was blood in the water. Her father could be more persistent than any shark alive.

“Ayame, did you know anything about this?” Her father’s tact caught Ayame entirely off guard. Without even stopping to think, she answered.

“I’m not supposed to say anything, father.” Immediately after blurting that out, she looked shocked and upset. It was an innocent answer, but it sounded bad.

“I see. Well then. Up until this time, what has this Sousuke been to you?” The absolute flat quality to his voice was much more frightening than his earlier outburst was.

“He was my friend, father.....” Kaname stopped when she saw her father’s hand grab the arm rest.

He wouldn’t stop until he heard what he thought was everything, and she was never able to hide anything from him.

Her father deserved an answer. He always had, but events had finally forced her hand.

“Daddy, is this cabin secure?” Kaname looked at the glass partition between them and their driver. She hoped that there was no chance of being overhead, given the sensitive nature of what she was about to say. Given its use in diplomatic service, the limousine should be routinely swept for bugs and the like.

“What?” The question caught her father by surprise. “Why?”

He saw the look in Kaname’s eyes and quickly answered “Yes, as best as I can determine.”

“He’s my bodyguard, father.” The words spilled out of her easily.

Kaname’s father sat upright, pulling his shoulder belt out to its limit. His mouth hung open briefly. “Why would a high school girl need a body guard? Have you gotten yourself into some kind of trouble, young lady?” He looked irate for a moment, but soon went pale.

“Could this have something to do with my position? Did someone attempt to harm you as a way to get at me?” He looked over at Ayame, wondering if he had reason to be concerned for her as well.

That look was easily interpreted by Kaname. She realized that there was something she needed to do later. While she had never heard anything that made her believe that the Whispered condition was hereditary, she would make certain that Ayame did not mutter technical terms in her sleep.

“Is this about me, Kaname?” Her father’s teeth were clenched.

Kaname shook her head. She hesitated a moment. It was hard to get the words to leave her lips.

She had to tell him, even though she had been discouraged from letting anyone know. The last thing that Mithril wanted was a U.N. official to start looking into their business, much less get proof of their existence. Kaname would simply have to trust her father’s judgment. This was tricky business. There were places she would have to draw the line.

“I’m Whispered, father.”

Shunya obviously had never heard that term before. “Whispered? Are you saying you hear voices? Is it some kind of psychiatric disorder. If so, why didn’t you.....”

Kaname shook her head. Despite her acceptance of her condition, she began to cry. The response triggered the paternal instinct in her father. His eyes softened and his posture relaxed.

“I’m not certain what it really is, father. All I know is that my brain contains secrets about Black Technology, science well beyond anything known by routine researchers. I was once told that I contained such information before I was even born.”

Kaname’s father looked as if he didn’t want to believe what he had just heard. Ayame looked very worried.

“How can this be so? And why is this the first time I’ve heard any of this? Couldn’t you have confided in your own father?” The anger began to creep back in.

Kaname shook her head again, wiping away her tears. “It would be too dangerous. Especially for you. I’ve been kidnapped multiple times as it is, Daddy. I’ve been hurt. Bad men have tried to take the information from me. I.... I.... somehow I have gotten used to it. I feel safe because....”

Her father looked helpless for a moment. Kaname had never seen anything like that, not even when he was dealing with her mother’s terrible illness. He ran a hand through his hair and put his serious face back on.

Suddenly, the car swerved. Everybody was shaken momentarily as the driver stepped hard on the brake and blew the horn. A taxi had run through a red light. Things had been very close.

It took a while for everyone to gather their senses.

“You feel safe because of your bodyguard. This Sousuke. Is that it?“ He father picked up where they had left off.

Kaname nodded.

“What is he? Mob family? Private personal defense firm? Japanese military? Just some punk who has an inflated opinion of himself? And how does he remain close enough to maintain your safety?”

Kaname correctly read the dual meaning of the question. It was both a query and a statement: ‘How can he be at school so much of the time’ and ‘He better not be spending the night in your domecile!’

Kaname bit her lip. It was one thing to reveal that she was Whispered. Mentioning Mithril specifically would be a much greater risk. She didn’t want their protection withdrawn. She didn’t want Sousuke pulled away from her!

“He’s a fellow student, Daddy.” That much was easy. It was true. “He is also a soldier.”

“A soldier? How old?” Shunya looked incredulous.

“Seventeen, Father. My age.”

“A soldier at seventeen? The Japanese armed forces would never indoctrinate someone at that age. And how would he have time to begin training, if he is always at school? That doesn’t make any sense.”

Her father scrutinized her face, looking to see if he could catch any sign of a lie.

“He’s not Japanese military, Daddy. He’s been a fighter since he was eight years old. He’s somewhat unique.” Kaname couldn’t help but smile.

That word certainly described a certain clueless Sergeant.

Kaname’s father could not help but catch that smile. He was too upset to purse that more narrow line of questioning just yet. “Intelligence agency?”

“No, Sir.” Kaname knew he would get upset if she kept him guessing any longer. “Not really. It is a secret organization, father. I shouldn’t use the name, not even with you. They work for world peace, trying to remain undetected. They make it a point to protect the Whispered. For now, they protect me. If they believe I am a risk to them....”

Her father’s face went ashen.

For as few moments he sat in silence, fidgeting. Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke. “I occasionally overhear things I shouldn’t. Information comes to me about things I am not supposed to be privy to. Recently, with events as they are, I have caught wind of a name. I have heard rumors of a miraculous submarine.” Her father’s hand shook slightly.

Kaname was certain she knew what her father was going to say. She was concerned about the words he had used: ‘with events as they are.’

What events? She still had no idea what was going on!

“Mithril.”

Kaname didn’t respond. She didn’t have too. Her face gave all the answer her father needed.

“So. They do exist. Then there’s hope.” Kaname instinctively knew that her father was talking about some bigger picture, not about her situation. His eyes regained focus, and he looked at his daughter with a hint of concern.

“If you are in danger Kaname, why isn’t this Sousuke with you? Are we being shadowed by him or people from his group?”

Her father looked out of the rear window of the car.

Kaname couldn’t help herself. She hated to be so weak, but the emotional roller coaster she was riding had taken its toll. She began crying again.

“Kaname?”

“I told you he was unique, Father. He is. Someone very special. Bodyguard is not his primary duty. He.... he...” Kaname faltered, putting her face in her hands.

Her father waited patiently, his heart going out to her. He had only seen her cry like this two times in the past---when her mother died, and when she learned she would be living alone in Tokyo without him or her sister.

Kaname made a Herculean effort. She set her jaw and shook her head. Her fingernails pushed deep into her palms.

“He’s a soldier, Daddy. A Specialist. He was called back to base to prepare for an upcoming operation. He had no idea where he might be going.” Kaname’s eyes grew very bright. She stared at her father. She wanted answers.

“Do you, father?”

Her father looked torn. Kaname knew he was wrestling with his own difficult decision He would feel compelled to tell her something. It was a matter of how much should he divulge.

“We will speak about it when we get back to the apartment. There is nothing we can do about it, any way. Furthermore, there is nothing we SHOULD find ourselves doing about it.” The meaning was clear. No phone call to anyone, no matter what.

“I shouldn’t do it at all, but….” Shunya continued, taking off his glasses and slowly rubing his eyes.

“Daddy?”

“You’ve given me a lot more to digest than I wanted, Kaname!” Her father managed a laugh, but Kaname knew it was forced.

“While it may be disconcerting to me as your father, it must have been much worse for you. No doubt, being who you are, you have handled it all with courage and good grace. But, don’t think you have to carry the whole load yourself, lambkin.” He reached out his hand and tapped her wrist. Smiling, he pushed aside a lock of her hair.

Kaname’s lip began to tremble. Her father hadn’t used that nickname for more years than she could remember. The tears almost began to fall again, until she caught the look on Ayame’s face. Of course she couldn’t help but listen in. If that little brat even so much as whispered ‘lambkin’…

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“I think I would like to meet the young man who has the important job of guarding my daughter.” He noted the shocked look on Kaname’s face.

His eyes squinted.

“If he manages to…. what I mean to say is whenever it is convenient for you both. I will pay for the plane tickets, naturally.” Her father was making it a point to be generous, not only in money, but in holding off on making any big choice.

Kaname didn’t have any illusions.

He could change his mind if he had reason to suspect she was better off with him and her sister.

“But….”

“Yes. Let me put it this way. You wish to hear about sensitive matters. I would like to meet the boy who holds your fate in his hands. It is nice to have things of value to exchange, isn’t it? Of course, with family, there is no need to view things that way.”

Ayame turned a incredulous look on her father. Kaname swallowed. She knew she couldn’t refuse his request. She might as well get something out of it.

“If it is possible for Sousuke, I will do so, Father.” She bowed her head. It wouldn’t be an issue if Sousuke didn’t come back safe and sound. If he did, could he get permission to fly to the States? She knew what the answer would be if his commanders suspected that kaname blew his cover.

“Good. Very good. So, while we inch our way through this pleasant city traffic, perhaps you can give your sister and I a preview of sorts. I would like to hear all about this Sousuke. His background. His training. What types of situations the two of you have faced. Your evaluation of his performance.” He smiled a crocodile’s smile. “Everything…..”

So that’s it!

The offer might be real, but the whole thing would serve as a means to get her to talk. Kaname remembered why she hated every politician except her father. As far as she was concerned, diplomats were politicians, whether or not they had to run for office.

“Uh….”

“KANAME.”

“As you wish, Father.” Kaname pilled her hair away from her face. She frowned, noticing one disheveled cab driver giving their chauffer the finger.

“Lets start with his hands, young lady.” That tact caught her off guard.

“Hands?” She had no idea what he was after.

“Yes, as in ‘has he put them all over you?’ Did the young man ever try to take advantage of you?” Her father’s look was very fierce.

“Sousuke?” Kaname couldn’t help but laugh. “He’d be the last person who would ever do that! You’d have to look far and wide to find someone that clueless. You might even need a special order catalog!”

“Really?” Her father didn’t look convinced.

“Yes, Father.” Kaname’s mood sobered up quickly. “Sousuke takes his job very seriously. He wouldn’t let anything hurt me. He would die for me. He has risked his life on a number of occasions.” Kaname did not add that Sousuke was the cause of a number of such occasions.

“But, he asked you out on a date….” It sounded as if Kaname’s father equated that with Kidnapping, Murder and Rape. Was Sousuke guilty until proven innocent?

Kaname blushed. She had to tell the truth. Hopefully there wouldn’t be a verbal explosion. “No, Father. I asked him.”

Shunya sat quietly. He didn’t move. Ayame drew a finger across her neck, pretending to cut her throat.

“I see. It looks as if we will have a lot to talk about during your stay in New York. If Tokyo is as dangerous for you as you make it sound, then that stay may become very long.” The sound of his voice was well-oiled, like a bear trap being set in the open position. Figuratively speaking, Kaname curled up her fingers and toes.

“Father, terrorist organizations can go anywhere. I would think this city knows that more than any other. I’m not in danger because I live in Tokyo. I’m in danger because I’m Whispered. I’m still alive because of Sousuke, who has been assigned to me in Tokyo. I seriously doubt that there is anyone else my age that could do what he does.”

Chew on that, Daddy! I know what danger you’re most worried about….

“You seem very proud of this young man. Dare I say very attached? Enamored? More?” Her father would not resort to innuendo. He didn’t have to. His question was straight to the point.

“Yes, Father. All of those. But only lately. For most of the time, I was annoyed and irritated. What did I need with someone following me around, always seeming to be there, claiming it was coincidence? It seriously creeped me out!”

“Good!” Her father looked embarrassed at his reaction.

Kaname blinked, then set her jaw. OK, Father. It’s out in the open now. My turn!

Ayame broke out laughing. She breathed on the window, fogging it up. She traced a big heart before wiping it away. Kaname took little notice. She was about to walk a much more serious path.

“But then things happened. He was forced to reveal his identity and mission. We almost didn’t come home.” Kaname couldn’t believe how easily she could talk about things that had turned her world up side down.

“Start from the beginning, Kaname. Do not leave anything out.” Shunya’s voice was stern, unyielding. But, he hadn’t been able to mask a sudden burst of fear.

“We were on a class trip to Okinawa. I still thought Sousuke was some kind of military nut. He was in the doghouse because I caught him on my balcony holding a pair of my panties.” Kaname bit her tongue. Yes, she had become too blasé talking about extraordinary and unusual things.

Damn that Sousuke!

“WHAT?!!!”

“He wasn’t the panty thief, Father. He had seen the culprit sneaking around my apartment and stopped him. I didn’t know that. I slammed him pretty hard with my softball bat.”

Ayame clapped her hands, giggling. “See Daddy. Sounds like your usual high school romance.”

Shunya looked at Ayame. Then at Kaname. Then at Ayame again. He shook his head and sighed.

“I have a suspicion that I am going to end up in a hospital ward before hearing the end of this. Or, you will end up in St. Mary’s convent. Both of you. Please continue.”

Kaname gave her sister the best ‘Just you wait’ look she could. Just whose side was she on?

It was time to sell Sousuke, even though her father was not in any mood to buy.

“Terrorists took over the plane. When we landed in Khanka, I was taken off of the aircraft and brought to a portable laboratory. I was placed in a machine, and would have been drugged. I don’t doubt that I would have eventually disappeared, never to be seen again.”

Kaname’s father looked stricken. It all sounded like something out of a spy novel or a bad TV movie. His daughter was obviously not joking.

“Sousuke was ordered to protect the hostages on the plane. They were a greater priority than one girl, Whispered or not. He disobeyed. He shot the guards who were manhandling me…covered my underwear with his school uniform… then dragged me off to a truck. He told me who he was while we drove off under heavy fire. I didn’t believe him. Seeing enemy Arm Slaves coming towards us, he crashed through the door into a hangar building. He surprised me by getting inside one of the machines himself. The others never stood a chance, Father."

Kaname still had trouble accepting the things that Sousuke did. How could someone be so masterful in some ways, but so clueless in others? "He’s one of the best A.S. pilots in Mithril.”

It was a bit too much for her father. Her looked out of the window for a number of blocks, lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly his head shot up. His eyes narrowed. Kaname would have sworn that he was fighting back a grin.

“So, he refused a direct order? Not the most dependable sort then.”

Kaname almost shouted. With all that she had said, her father was obviously drowning in the truth. What did he grab for as a life preserver? The chance to discredit the boy his daughter was interested in.

“You couldn’t be more wrong.” Her voice snapped like a wet towel swung at someone’s unguarded posterior. “I like to think he took my safety very seriously.”

Shunya looked away, then nodded. He yielded that point.

She went on to describe everything in detail, finishing with her stay in the hospital. “He gave me the picture father. It’s in my suitcase. I will show it to you when we get home.” Kaname thought back to the time in her apartment.

She saw the package fly through the air. She heard the sound of breaking glass. She remembered the way she felt when she realized just what Sousuke had given her.

“That was the worst of it all?” Her father didn’t want to believe there could be anything worse than that episode. “Nothing so horrible has happened since then?” His eagerness could be paternal concern. Still, the was a hint that he was looking for a reason to devalue his daughter’s protector.

Kaname actually smiled, despite the frightening and painful memories she had. They were a pretty good team, Sousuke and her! The smile went away as quickly as it had appeared. That Captain had helped as well.

Now was not the time for her mind to become rebellious. She shook away the image of Sousuke comforting Tessa.

“No, Daddy. That maniac did not die. He devised a clever plan that would have succeeded, if it hadn’t been for Sousuke and myself.”

“YOU?”

“Yes, Father.” Kaname went on to describe the attempted hijacking of the TDD-1. Her father’s face seemed to turn to stone when she told him of the abilities she had discovered. She went on to describe things in too much detail, spurred on by her own pride.

It might prove to be a costly mistake.

Her father was no doubt struck by the fact that she was proud of the role she played. He might wonder if being around Sousuke made her reckless and foolhardy. He could very well see Sousuke as the world’s largest lightning rod.

What had she done?

“It seems plain to me that you would not have gotten into trouble if that soldier had not asked you to go on a trip with him!” Shunya’s eyes flashed. “And you never went so far as to tell me why you chose to accept the offer to go away somewhere with a boy… alone.” His hands opened and closed with each beat of his heart.

Sousuke, what should I do? What would YOU do?

Yes. I know.

Kaname squared her shoulders and tossed her hair. She was going to attack this head on, whatever the cost. She owed it to herself. She owed it to Sousuke. If she had to stretch the truth some, so be it!

“I will tell you something in the strictest confidence, Father. The Captain of that submarine is a girl my age. She designed the sub. She’s Whispered too. At her orders, Sousuke brought me aboard to visit with her. It was so she could explain to me what being Whispered meant.” That was essentially true. Sousuke had actually meant to show her Mithril’s island, and to take her to that secret fishing place.

Her father relaxed some, but was not about to give up that easily.

“But, you almost died because of Mithril. Is all the protection in the world worth that. Are they causing more problems than they are solving?” He slammed his hand down hard on the seat, causing Ayame to jump.

Kaname caught her tongue in time. She almost said that Sousuke was worth any risk. That would have been the final nail in her coffin. And, she wasn’t certain if that was entirely true. She still had a lot to find out about a certain walking natural disaster.

“I know you want to protect me Father, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” Kaname’s eyes teared up. She hated arguing with her father. Things between them had always been a touch stiffer since her mother die. Her father obviously was afraid to lose anyone else. “But, all the love in the world won’t keep me safe. This is hard on me, you know. I didn’t ask for it. I live it day after day. I’m doing my best.”

Ayame unbuckled her seat belt. She reached over and squeezed Kaname’s hand, tears in her eyes.

Shunya looked down, shaken. He had lost sight of the forest, so worried about the trees. He opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to think or say at that moment.

“Very few people officially know about the Whispered, Father. You could imagine what people might do or think if they became common knowledge. As far as I know, Mithril and her secret allies are the only people looking out for us. Had that submarine been stolen, the organization would have been seriously hurt. Those like me would be fair game.” Kaname rested her chin on her clasped hands.

Her father nodded his head. He could see the truth in her words. He just didn’t want to accept the new world he was faced with.

“If Sousuke and I didn’t end up on that submarine, there’s no telling what might have happened. You made it sound like you had word of the sub's existence. It certainly looked like you took comfort from that fact. We saved it, Daddy. The two of us and the Captain.”

“I see that, but this young man….”

Kaname brought both of her hands down hard, striking them painfully against her knees.

“His name is Sousuke, Father.” At that moment, Kaname couldn’t hold back her emotions any more.

And, he kissed me.

“I know I have told you that.”

I want him to kiss me again.

“You don’t even know him.”

He means the world to me.

“He… is… NOT… the… enemy!”

Kaname knew how her words must sound. She may very well have crossed some important line in the sand. But, she would stand up for Sousuke. He was standing up for Japan at the very least, probably the entire world. He deserved no less.

Ayame looked shocked. Neither of them had ever talked to their father that way.

Shunya felt indignant at first, but soon realized just how worried his daughter must be. She had said the young man would be headed into battle, and that likely meanthe would end up in the middle of the Asian situation. He didn’t know the full details of that crisis, since it wasn’t germane to his position. He knew more than enough to be frightened out of his wits.

That was why Kaname was in America.

“I…. I apologize, Kaname. It is ungracious and insensitive of me. I’m not trying to hurt you. You have to realize that to some fathers, any boy who takes an interest in their daughter is the enemy. I mean no disrespect to someone who has taken risks to keep you safe.” He was clearly torn.

It was important that his daughter see his side of things. This needed to be handled carfully. It couldn't be rushed.

The look on Kaname’s face reminded Shunya of his late wife Shizu. She would look that way when he was being bull-headed and she felt she was right.

He had lost her to cancer.

He didn’t want to lose his daughter over this.

“He isn’t the enemy, Daddy.” Kaname’s voice was very quiet. The anger ran out of her as if someone pulled a plug. The fear remained and grew stronger. She was with the one man who had done the most for her, but she somehow felt so helpless.

She put the car window down after disabling the security override. She placed her arm on the sill and her head on her arm. She breathed deep, taking in the smells of the night.

Countless homes, businesses, and apartment complexes lit up the darkness. She wondered how many of the people in those buildings took their safety for granted. She wondered how many of those people had someone they loved... someone who treasured them in return.

It was Christmas Eve here.

She remembered celebrating the Christmas holiday for a number of years when she was younger. Christmas Eve, Japan time, had already passed, leaving her lonely, disappointed, and uncertain. Would she end up feeling the same way a second time, even though she was with two of the most important people in her life?

Kaname did not say another word before the car pulled into the driveway of her father’s home.

I love Kaname's confession here, how she calls Mithril, and in several cases acts like Sousuke. Picking up on how he acts will do the girl some good.